Atlanta Stadium Development & Placemaking Conference

Jeremy Strife is the Executive Vice President of Development for the Atlanta Braves where he oversees daily leasing, property management, and future development of the Braves Development Company. Strife was brought into the Atlanta Braves organization in 2015 to spearhead the development of The Battery Atlanta, the 2.25-million-square-foot mixed-use campus surrounding Truist Park. As part of the Braves executive leadership team, Strife was instrumental in BDC’s April 2025 acquisition of Pennant Park – a 32 acre, six building office complex adjacent to Truist Park. BDC's groundbreaking strategy has become a benchmark for future stadium-centric projects, utilizing sports entertainment to stimulate economic growth and enriching the guest experience well beyond game days. Following the grand opening of The Battery Atlanta in 2017, Strife assumed leadership of the Braves Security Services and Braves Parking Services teams and acted as the head of Braves Health Preparedness guiding the company through 2.5 years of the evolving COVID19 pandemic. Jeremy serves on the Cobb Chamber Board of Directors, SelectCobb Board of Directors, and Cobb Transportation & Mobility Committee. Prior to joining the Braves, Strife spent nine years with S&P 100 company, Simon Property Group (NYSE:SPG), where he specialized in leading dynamic teams focused on asset management, acquisition transitions, ground-up developments, and redevelopments across the U.S. A native of Carthage, N.Y., Jeremy and his wife Ellen reside in Cobb County. He is a graduate of Indiana University in Bloomington, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Affairs Law.

As CEO of Four Stones, Blake Goodman leads the firm’s charge to deliver transformative real estate projects, including serving as Master Developer for Trilith Studios and organizations such as the U.S. Soccer Federation. Under his leadership, Four Stones has established a strategic partnership with Momentous Sports Fund and oversees a dynamic portfolio of multi-family asset acquisitions and developments throughout the southeastern United States. Committed to building a world-class team of innovative decision-makers, Blake focuses on scaling each of the firm’s core pillars to ensure sustained growth and a positive impact. Prior to establishing Four Stones, Blake served as Executive Director of New Restaurant Growth for Chick-fil-A, Inc., and managed Real Estate Investments for the Cathy Family. In these roles, he pioneered a data-driven platform leveraging customer insights to propel Chick-fil-A’s domestic and global expansion. A graduate of the University of Georgia, where he earned both a BBA and JD, Blake further honed his leadership expertise through Stanford University’s Executive Program for Growing Companies. Blake resides in Georgia with his wife, Kim, and their five children.

Adam leads Carter’s mixed-use development projects and public-private partnerships nationwide. Since joining Carter in 2016, Adam has managed all components of the development cycle including sourcing opportunities, coordinating with municipalities, fostering neighborhood relations, securing project financing, and overseeing project construction and dispositions. Adam is currently directing The Grounds, a 100-acre mixed-use project in partnership with Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC, as well as serving as the firm’s lead of the ongoing pro bono work with At Promise Youth Centers. Outside of work, Adam draws on his experience from complex, high-impact, public-private partnerships as a member of the Board of Directors of Invest Atlanta, the City of Atlanta’s official economic development authority.

Kwanza Hall currently serves as Chairman of Develop Fulton, the Development Authority of Fulton County. In this role, Kwanza helps shape the organization's strategic direction, championing policies that drive investment, job creation, and inclusive economic development across Fulton County. Under his leadership, Develop Fulton has amplified its focus on catalytic growth sectors such as clean technology, logistics, advanced manufacturing, biomedical innovation, and fintech. Originally appointed to the board in 2023 and elected chairman in 2024, Kwanza brings over 30 years of experience in public service, business development, and civic engagement. In 2020, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives for Georgia's 5th District, completing the late Congressman John Lewis's term. He also served on the Atlanta School Board and spent 15 years as an elected member of the Atlanta City Council. Beyond his public service, Kwanza leads a government affairs and consulting firm that connects the public and private sectors to advance community-focused economic strategies and innovation. A native of Atlanta, Kwanza graduated from Benjamin E. Mays High School and attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He is widely recognized for his commitment to equity, smart growth, and long-term community transformation.

Ryan Woods is the Design Director of The Beck Group’s Atlanta office, where he leads the creative vision and strategic direction of the architecture studio. With more than a decade of experience, Ryan is known for delivering award-winning, community-centered projects that balance design excellence with real-world impact—shaping Atlanta’s urban fabric and influencing the broader built environment. Ryan’s portfolio includes some of the city’s most transformative developments, including Peachtree Center, Phipps Plaza, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium. He also led the design of The Melody, Atlanta’s first city-led rapid housing initiative—an innovative project that delivered 40 transitional housing units in under 90 days and has since become a national model for addressing homelessness through design-build delivery. A passionate advocate for integrated design and leadership development, Ryan is widely recognized for fostering collaboration, mentoring emerging talent, and advancing equity within the industry. He currently serves on the HOPE Atlanta Young Professionals Board, is actively involved with Central Atlanta Progress, and is a graduate of LEAD Atlanta (Class of 2024)—supporting efforts focused on downtown revitalization, civic leadership, and community impact. Ryan served as Vice President of Membership and Diversity for NAIOP Georgia, where he led the organization’s first diversity-focused internship program. Ryan’s leadership and design work have earned national and statewide recognition. In 2025, he was named one of Building Design + Construction’s 40 Under 40, a national honor recognizing the most influential young leaders in the AEC industry. He has also received NAIOP’s Developing Leader of the Year, and has been recognized by both Atlanta Business Chronicle and Georgia Trend Magazine as a 40 Under 40 honoree. Ryan holds a Master of Architecture from Clemson University and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Texas Tech University. In his role at Beck, he continues to push boundaries through human-centered, mission-driven design, creating places that are not only beautiful but also purposeful, resilient, and enduring.”

Nick Ruzicka is a Senior Project Manager with JE Dunn Construction, currently overseeing the $500 million mixed-use development, The Henry at The Battery. In this role, Nick leads project operations, profitability, safety, and team performance, serving as the primary point of contact for stakeholders and ensuring project success aligns with client goals. He manages the entire project lifecycle—from planning and execution to closeout—with a focus on procurement, client satisfaction, and financial outcomes. Nick’s experience spans large-scale industrial, institutional, and commercial projects, with a specialization in multi-phased and mixed-use campuses delivered through both Design-Build and traditional Design-Bid-Build methods. Most recently, he oversaw the expansive growth of the SCAD Campus in Midtown Atlanta. Nick holds a Bachelor of Civil & Environmental Engineering from the University of Dayton and an MBA from the Scheller College of Business at Georgia Tech.

By nurturing quality relationships with employees, clients, and contractors, Lamar’s emphasis on people permeates every aspect of the firm’s business. He channels his expertise and vast architectural implementation experience into a successfully executed project. Lamar has led several successful projects in the Atlanta metro region, including Avalon, Atlantic Station, Interlock and Halcyon. His expertise in creating vibrant mixed-use developments that trigger further growth around sports venues, such as The Battery, is unprecedented.

Mr. Todd Helmer serves as Chief Executive Officer of THA Consulting, Inc. (THA), providing strategic vision and executive leadership across firm operations, project development, financial management, and business development. He brings more than 30 years of experience in engineering and architecture, including 26 years specializing in the planning, design, and restoration of mixed-use parking structures. Mr. Helmer’s mixed-use experience encompasses all aspects of parking and building design, balancing operational efficiency, user experience, and long-term durability. His work reflects a deep understanding of how parking contributes to the success of complex mixed-use developments. Mr. Helmer is a licensed Professional Engineer and Structural Engineer. He serves on the boards of the March of Dimes, the American Heart Association, and the Greater Valley Forge Transportation Management Association’s Innovation Committee, and remains active in several professional organizations. Mr. Helmer holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.